John Needles (1786-1878): An Autobiography

JOHN NEEDLES (1786-1878): AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY Edited by Edward Needles Wright* Introduction John Needles' autobiography, written at the request of his son, Edward, carries his life to 1872, within six years of his death. This account in his own handwriting was discovered among papers of the Needles family in the possession of the editor and, to the best of his knowledge, has never appeared before in printed form. The only way in which the original manuscript has been changed has been to break it down into sentences and paragraphs for the sake of clarity. John Needles was born of Quaker parents, Edward and Mary (Lamb) Needles, on 10th month 4th, 1786, in Talbot County, Maryland.1 It is evident from his account that most of his early life was spent on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, in the counties of Talbot, Princess Anne, Caroline, and Kent, and his adult years in and around Baltimore. From his earliest years to the day of his death John Needles was an ardent and active Quaker. Although not mentioned by him specifically in his autobiography, he had the unusual record of "attending sixty-nine consecutive Yearly Meetings" and of visiting "all of the Yearly Meetings of our Society (except Illinois, recently established ) and some of them several times, as well as many of the Quarterly and other Meetings, and in some instances the families composing them."2 Mention is also made of "his religious labors which extended over a long period of years, during which he made numerous journeys to various parts of the country, often traveling in bis own carriage with other ministering Friends, sometimes being * Edward Wright, of Moylan, Pennsylvania, is a great-grandson of John Needles. 1 Record of tL· Man, Needles (Nedels), and Hambleton Families; with Others Affiliated Thereunto. A.D. 1495 to A.D. 1876, el seq. (Printed for the Subscribers by Edmund Deacon, Philadelphia, 1876.) John Needles was the first custodian of the Needles family copy, which contains later manuscript family records, 2 Memorial to John Needles read in and approved by Baltimore Meeting of Men and Women Friends, L·ld 9th month 4th, 1879; by Baltimore Quarterly Meeting, Md at Gunpowder, 8th of 9th month, 1879; and by Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Md by adjournments, from tL· 27th of 10th month to tL· 30th of tL· same, inclusive, 1879. 4 Quaker History absent for several months at a time." Furthermore, "he took a lively interest in whatever tended to the relief and uplifting of humanity" and meetmg activities, such as First-Day schools and Bible classes, received his sympathy and encouragement.3 It is understandable that John Needles chose cabinetmaking as his profession, partly because of his father, who likewise was a cabinetmaker , and partly because of his extensive training, first as an apprentice and then as a journeyman. It is perhaps more remarkable that, with his limited and sporadic education, he developed such skill and artistry in the handling of the materials of his trade. Although his work as a cabinetmaker has long been known, enjoyed, and appreciated by his immediate family, relatives, and friends, and by a few connoisseurs, it has been only fairly recently that his furniture has received full recognition and that he has been acknowledged as one of the few fine American cabinetmakers of the nineteenth century.4 John Needles was very much a family man as illustrated by the constant references to his parents, brothers and sisters, wife, children, and relatives. He had a brother, Joseph, two years older, and the following half-sisters and -brothers by his father's second marriage: Elizabeth, James, Sarah, and Edward. His father also had a twin brother, John, after whom he was probably named. John Needles, the diarist, and his first wife, Eliza Matthews, had as children : Mary, Ruthanna, Edith, Anna Maria, Edward, Eliza, John, Sarah, and Helen, all of whom survived him. In his autobiography John Needles mentions only his first wife but he subsequently married Lydia Smith and, after her death, Mary Ann Bowers. In addition to his family, meeting, and business obligations, John Needles was active throughout most of his life in the cause of slaves and freedmen. In the account of...